Washington (CNN) – Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia on Sunday partially credited President Barack Obama’s policies with his state's relatively low unemployment rate, but also said the figure would be better with a President Mitt Romney.

The Romney backer said stimulus programs supported by the president helped his state in the short-term with health care, education and balancing the budget but would not help cut the unemployment rate long-term.- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

The national policies had “some impact,” McDonnell said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” but “think of how much better we’d do if we had President Romney.”

For the past year, the Old Dominion’s unemployment rate, which the latest figures show is at 5.6%, has sat 2 or 3 points below the national average. The May jobs report indicated the national unemployment rate rose to 8.2%.

McDonnell credited economic development and targeted tax cuts supported by both political parties in the presidential battleground state for the rate, but predicted the figure would be lower without energy policies bolstered by the president.

“If we hadn’t had all these attacks on Virginia’s energy industry, we’d be in a lot better shape,” McDonnell told CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley. “We’d be lower on the unemployment rate if we didn’t have these policies.”

McDonnell, who is often mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick for Romney, slightly dodged a question about whether Team Romney asked for papers from the former Virginia attorney general to enable a vetting process.

“They’ve asked for my schedule to see where I can help him next, and it’s going to be in Virginia. That’s it,” McDonnell said. “I’ll leave that up to Mitt Romney, but I’m going to help him win Virginia.”

Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.

soundoff(29 Responses)

Gina probe McDonnell better get back into lockstep or he'll be primaried. "The stimulus never worked" is the lie he's supposed to tell. Nothing President Obama does ever works.

June 3, 2012 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

non issues

I am not sure why the rightys keep saying that the spending is at its hightest, yet congress allows all of the spending. 2 wars after Dub ducked out of that one had to be added. If the GOP gets their way, the spending will be out of whack. And you can bet it will be pointed at President Obama for the mess. Yet the GDP is improving, we saw the stock hit 13k for the first time, ended a war, another to be ended soon, and a major terroist responsible for 9/11 is gone. Ledbetter act, tax cuts, support for business owners, GM did not go down in flames, suport for minorities, women, vets, and gays.
The other guy says the trees are the rigt height, I have friends who own nascar teams and football teams, I want elevators for my cars, the wife wore a $1000 shirt the other day, I strapped a crate to the roof of my car and put the dog in there.

June 3, 2012 03:04 pm at 3:04 pm |

Herb

Gov. McDonnell gave Obama credit for something? I guess he has totally given up the idea that he could be the VP nominee.

June 3, 2012 03:28 pm at 3:28 pm |

Maryellen

Not only did Romney not serve in the Military but not one of his 5 sons did either, great Americans. Romney would have gone to Vietnam, I'm sure Daddy saw to it that that didn't happen.